A top-quality appliance can alter the way your family and you start your day. What is the best coffee maker for your kitchen?
Try the GE Cafe Speciality Grind and Brewed to get a bright and bold coffee. Its striking design makes it a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen bar and those who love smart appliances will appreciate the capability to control the coffee maker via an app.
1. Cuisinart 12-Cup Pod coffee maker
While it lacks the ability to make espresso (or latte art) as our top two picks, this Cuisinart model is still an excellent choice for those looking to make pods or filter coffee without breaking the bank. It is simple to use, inexpensive and has a variety of convenient settings, including an automatic brew timer as well as the "strong" setting to make a robust cup. It has a removable reservoir and reusable filter making it simple to clean.
The brushed stainless finish is timeless and is a great addition to any kitchen. However the control knob can be a bit clunky and it takes some getting used to and adjusting the timer felt more like a game at a carnival rather than a real appliance. The large capacity and programable functions will be appealing to households with larger families, while those who drink less frequently can benefit from the capacity to make only one cup at a given time.
It was as good as any of our top choices in terms of the brewing process. The brewing cycle was fast and the machine came with a thermal carafe which kept our coffee warm for an hour. It did appear to extract more ground than other models, however we don't think this is a major issue.
We like the design of this espresso maker that is a bit more expensive that comes in a variety of vibrant colors that would definitely be noticed on a counter in the kitchen. It's more sophisticated than the less expensive Diletta Mio, and is ideal for those who make espresso for an hobby, or for those for whom coffee brewing is an integral part in their daily routine. It has an electronic PID that controls the amount, the temperature of the water and an actual steam wand, which is connected to its own heating circuit for fast-paced brewing and steaming.
The only drawback to this model is that it's more expensive than its competitors, but it's worth the extra cost for those who take their coffee seriously and are willing to put some time into learning the art of espresso making. In our tests, it made espresso shots that were smooth and balanced with nuanced flavor and no bitterness or ashiness.
2. Breville Bambino Plus
When you're making espresso, there's no more reliable machine than the Breville Bambino Plus (also known as Sage by some customers). This model appears basic, but packs a lot of features in small dimensions. It is simple for novices to play around with the default temperature settings, which yield a smooth extraction right out of box. It also provides clear guidelines on which sizes of grinders work with its dual wall filter baskets. It lets users alter how long the pre-infusion feature dries the coffee grounds prior to increasing the pressure. This helps to ensure an even flow and balance of flavor.
This model is among the most user-friendly thanks to its easy-to-use interface. It doesn't include an integrated grinder, so you'll have to buy an espresso grinder that isn't as costly as other models on this list.
The Bambino Plus's other advantages include the ability to automatically purge its steam wand once it's finished frothing milk and its three different milk texture settings. It also has a leveling tool and tamper, which makes it easier to get an exact shot every time. The machine will automatically remind you to clean and descaling.
The Breville Bambino Plus is a great choice for anyone looking to make top-quality coffee at home. However, it is ideal for serious amateurs and baristas in the making. The pre-infusion feature that is low-pressure guarantees a balanced taste while its 15-bar Italian pump provides a full creamy body. It is also extremely versatile, with a water pressure setting that can be adjusted, as well as the possibility of switching between a single or double-shot volume at the touch of one button. Its compact design makes it ideal for kitchens with limited space and makes it the ideal coffee maker for smaller space. The machine is available in several colors, but we prefer the sleek black appearance.
3. Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One
The Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One uses the gold-standard pour-over method used to brew coffee. It's a greener option than the standard 10-cup brewer because it requires less energy and produces significantly less grounds of coffee. If website 're a dedicated barista at home, this is a great machine to invest in. It's also enjoyable to watch the brewing unfold. The copper boiling element heats water quickly and keeps temperatures in the range of 196-205degF (91-96degC) to ensure optimal extraction. The cone-shaped brew tray ensures that all the ground coffee is saturated to bring out its full aroma and flavor. A single cup of coffee takes just four minutes to brew, although it may not seem that fast in comparison to other single-cup brewers, but is still very quick by the standards of drip machines.
The Cup-One, like other Technivorm machines, is manufactured in the Netherlands. It also comes with a 5-year warranty. It's more expensive than other automatic brewers but you'll get the security of knowing that it will be a reliable and stable maker for a long time.
This is among the most beautiful brewing machine available. Particularly if you opt for the stainless steel version. The brushed finish is stunning and is a perfect match for any kitchen design. It's simple to operate and clean, too. After each use, just take out the filters and coffee grounds, and wash the brew pot. It's important to remember that this brewer can't make cold brew or espresso, that's why we don't list it as our top pick.
Like the Rancilio Silvia, it's a stunning machine that looks stunning on display and is simple to operate. The only downside to this model is that the tank's water reservoir has prominent ridges, which can be difficult to read in early morning light. Furthermore, there are no marking measurements for ounces or cups which makes it a little tricky to determine the amount of water to add and how much to put in the basket. That said, the quality of the brew is well worth any minor problems.
4. Delonghi Eletta Explore
The Delonghi Eletta Explore coffee maker is an extremely automated machine that comes with a variety of extras. It includes two milk jugs (one for hot and one for cold), travel mugs and an ice cube tray to serve cold drinks. It also comes with a broad selection of hot and cold coffee recipes (more 40 in total). The machine has a built-in Wi-Fi and can be controlled by the Coffee Link app. It's most impressive feature is called Bean Adapt, which allows users to test new espresso beans by using the app to inform the machine the type, colour, and roast of the beans. It adjusts the espresso settings according to what it learns from your preferences and tastes.
The Eletta features a user-friendly interface that allows you to choose and save your preferred size of drink and create user profiles. It comes with a built-in grinder that can create various types of coffee. It's among the most expensive machines we've reviewed in our guide but it can be a great investment for anyone looking to brew a wide range of drinks, including iced ones using a single device.
It's user-friendly and the display is clear and intuitive, but it does take some time to get used to the various steps involved in making espresso and other coffees. We recommend this machine only if your goal is to make a lot espressos and you're willing to put in the effort to make it work.
The only negatives with this machine are that it takes longer than other models to heat up and the water tank isn't equipped with the markings for cups or ounces. The coffee produced by the machine was excellent, with a great flavour and texture. It's also extremely quiet, even when running the grinder and brewing coffee. This is the most quiet super-automatic machine that we've ever tested. It's a huge benefit for those who live in apartments. You can also dispense your coffee straight into a cup for take-away with the machine's to-go function, which can be beneficial on mornings with a rush.
